Busy Elmira Street Getting a Facelift

ELMIRA (WENY) -- A major roadway that leads into Downtown Elmira is getting a facelift. East Church street between Madison Avenue and Clemens Center Parkway will undergo a $1.4 million rehabilitation project. The improvements will include curb extensions, new sidewalks and new pavement.

Federal dollars are covering the majority of costs, with the state and city kicking in about 20 percent. Project leaders say they're still looking for residential feedback before they get started, but know this is a much needed project.

"We're trying to first maintain the infrastructure we already have," says the city's Director of Public Works, Andy Avery. "And then make it a safer corridor for bicyclists, pedestrians and the motor vehicles."

"We really can put the dollars to good use to improve the infrastructure," says Mike Croce, the project manager from Bergmann Associates. "And hopefully that will be springboard for other folks to get money for their own businesses and facades that will make the corridor that much better looking so when people come to Elmira, it's really a nice place to be."

Construction should start next spring and be finished by the late summer or early fall. You can submit comments and suggestions about the project until Tuesday, June 19 by e-mailing the public works director at aavery@cityofelmira.net .